Winners, Winners, Winners!

The winners of Deadly Heat & Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden are:

#45 Andrea / MG(LWS) *confirmed*

#52 Sheila K. *confirmed*

#36 .Ambur. *confirmed*

The winners of How Sweet It Is by Sophie Gunn are:

#26 alcee c. *no reply*

#21 justpeachy36 *confirmed*

#24 brendajean *confirmed*

New winner:
#42 Joan O.

The Winners of Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt are:

#19 Chelsea B. *confirmed*

#17 Kate N. (aka YzhaBella) *Confirmed*

#5 Laurie G. *passed*

New winner:
#42 Laura H.

Congratulations!!!

I will send everyone an email today and you will have 48 hours to reply. Please keep in mind Hachette’s 1 copy per household rule. All winners were chosen with the help of Random.org

Teaser Tuesday ~ February 22nd

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Make sure you check out her blog for all the details! My teaser this week comes from an e-galley of Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis.

Spells for love...spells for whispering secrets across a great distance -- not much use, since I hadn’t managed to run farther away from home than our own boring front garden. What I could have used was a spell for eavesdropping on secrets from far away so that I could hear the conversations downstairs.

p. 43- 44

Author Interview: Molly Harper

I’m excited to welcome author Molly Harper to the blog today! 


TFE: You have a series featuring vampires and now one with werewolves. Are there any other supernatural characters you hope to include in future books?


Molly: Ghosts. I really want to write a haunted house book.


TFE: If you had to choose a favorite would it be vampires or werewolves?


Molly: Don’t make me choose! I love that vampires are suave and smooth, with this undercurrent of predatory sensuality.  Werewolves, however, are all predatory sensuality.  But they are a little more approachable, a little warmer.  But I guess I would choose a werewolf, so I could have a relatively normal, daytime life.


TFE: What is your favorite part about writing Paranormal Romance?


Molly: Anything and everything is possible.  There really are no rules. One of the funniest writing experiences I’ve had so far was when I got just terribly, terribly stuck on a plot point for HOW TO FLIRT.  My husband, David, watched me torture myself for an hour, before he finally said, “Honey, just magic it away.”


He was referring to a conversation we’d had about JK Rowling, and how I loved the fact that she used magic to overcome so many potential plot snags in Harry Potter. He had to remind me that I was thinking too hard, putting too many human restrictions on my characters. David is dangerously smart sometimes.


TFE: How to Flirt With A Naked Werewolf takes place in Alaska. Have you had a chance to visit "The Last Frontier" ?


Molly: Not yet, but I really want to. David wants to take a backpacking trip there soon. I’m hoping that he’ll leave me at a spa or something while he does that.  I enjoy the outdoors, at a reasonable distance.


TFE: Do you know how many books will be in the Naked Werewolf series?


Molly: I have an idea for a third book, but I don’t know if it will be picked up yet.  After that, who knows?  It sort of depends on whether people embrace the series.


TFE: What do you think readers will like most about the main characters in your new book?


Molly: Mo is a lot more confident and comfortable with herself than Jane Jameson is. She’s just an all-around fun gal, smart, with a wicked sense of humor. And she’s a little badass.


Cooper is surly and sexy and funny and strong. I remember, I sent the first chapter to my agent to show her my idea for the book. And her response was, “WOW, you made Cooper so hot!” I’ve never had that response from her before, so I knew I was on to something good.


TFE: I adored And One Last Thing. Do you plan to write more contemporary romances?


Molly: Well, I have a few more ideas for contemporary books, but for now, I’m hanging out with the vampires and werewolves.


TFE: What are you currently reading?


Molly: A Brush Of Darkness by Allison Pang. There’s a dirty talking unicorn. That’s all I have to say.


TFE: How do you relax when you’re not writing or working?


Molly: I had a massage about a month ago.  And afterward, when I warmed up the spa shower, I checked my Blackberry for frantic, “Where the hell are you, woman?  How long does a spa day take?” texts from my husband.  My hands were  slippery from the massage oil, the Blackberry shot out of my hands and right into the shower. I spent the rest of the day replacing my fried phone and trying to track down my contacts’ information.


This is why I don’t try to relax. It’s dangerous.


TFE: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your upcoming release?


Molly: You don’t have to wait for very long for the sequel to HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF. The next book, THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF, comes out on March 29, 2011. Thanks so much for having me here!


TFE: You’re welcome, Molly! Thanks for stopping by, and the best of luck with your new series! How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf hits shelves on February 22nd.

Molly Harper on the web:

Website | Blog | Twitter

Books in this series:

Author Interview: Lena Goldfinch

I’m pleased to welcome Lena Goldfinch, author of The Language of Souls, to the blog. 

TFE: Welcome, Lena! What emotions can readers expect to feel while reading The Language of Souls?

Lena: The first emotion that comes to mind is longing. Solena’s longing to heal her grandfather drives her to embark on a dangerous journey. Rundan’s longing to impress his father, an army commander, compels him to capture Solena when she trespasses on Ober Eden territory, even though this action is in conflict with his scholarly, peace-loving nature. Since they speak different languages, they both experience the frustration of trying to communicate with each other. There’s some suspense at times too...but I guess what I’d most like the reader to connect with is this underlying sense of…wonder, I guess, as Solena and Rundan discover each other. Despite their differences, they’re attracted to each other, in a very sweet way. I think they’re really exceptional people (what mother doesn’t, right? LOL) and their love for one another grows out of mutual respect. (That they eventually fall in love comes as no surprise, I hope, since it’s a romance? ;))

                                                                                                                                                             

TFE: I found the votifs in The Language of Souls incredibly fascinating. Is there a story behind how the votif idea came to be?

Lena: The concept of the votif actually came in a later draft of the story. I loved the characters from the early drafts: the old prophet, the young healer, and the reluctant soldier. I was also in love with the challenge of writing a tale in which the characters couldn’t freely communicate (my driving concept was “how could someone fall in love through actions not words?”)

But…I just felt there was some indefinable something missing. So I set the story aside and would occasionally pull it out to tinker with. Then I happened upon an article on writing speculative fiction which talked about taking an element from everyday life and putting a spin on it. It got me thinking…what if our souls were a physical thing, something we carried around with us? The concept of the votif was born and, as a very spiritual person, it fascinated me. I feel the votif finally brought all the threads of the story together.

TFE: Is Solena and Rundan's story complete, or do you plan to write more about them in the future?

Lena: To me, the story is complete (in a very tight 76 pages, which is a miracle in itself, as I typically write much longer!). But I feel I accomplished what I set out to. However…I never know when a world or a character might pull me back in, so I wouldn’t rule it out completely. ;)

TFE: Your characters have names I'd consider very unique. How did you choose them?

Lena: Truthfully? I plucked them out of the air. *grin*

Solena and Rundan were the first two names that came to me for these characters. A lot of times I’ll pour over baby name books and websites searching for character names. I’ll make lists and spend way too much time obsessing (my critique partners are likely rolling their eyes right now), but this was a rare occasion when the names just came to me.

Subconsciously, maybe I latched onto Solena for the heroine because it evokes the warm coastal climate of Torani, her native land. Sol means sun in Spanish and Latin, sole in Italian,soleil in French... (If you couldn’t tell by the title of my story, I have a thing for languages. ;) All the Torani words were inspired by romance languages.)

Mostly, Solena just sounded right! LOL

Rundan, the hero, comes from Ober Eden, a cold, mountainous country, whose language is more clipped and Slavic-sounding than Torani. The name Rundan isn’t really perfect in that sense, because it’s too rounded sounding to my ear. During my many revisions, I tried several other names, but nothing else felt right. He was just Rundan. Perhaps, since he’s so different than his rather suspicious, hostile countrymen, his not-quite-Oberian sounding name is fitting? 

TFE: If you can, please share what you are currently working on?

Lena: I have a young adult adventure fantasy, Aire, that I’m trying to find a publishing home for. Fingers crossed!

Meanwhile, I’m currently juggling two other young adult projects, both adventure fantasies, set in different worlds. One is set in Regency England, complete with enchanted objects, stolen identities, and lost memories. The other is an island-set fantasy inspired by Maori folk tales.

I absolutely love writing young adult fiction, and though The Language of Souls is an adult romance, I’d call it “young adult friendly”.

I have some excerpts of my work posted on my website (www.LenaGoldfinch.com) and will be updating with new content soon.

TFE: What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?

Lena: Well, I got Xbox Kinect for Christmas and am now hooked on Xbox Dance Central. I dance almost every day. I’ve also been learning Tai Chi, and find it a relaxing but challenging form of exercise. (It’s way harder than it looks! LOL). For reading, I’m a sucker for a good romance, whether it be a traditional Regency, a historical romance, inspirational, young adult fantasy, etc…

I’m very active in my church and love hanging out with family and friends. My kids are teens now, and though this age can be challenging (rolls eyes LOL), it’s also a great age. As my kids are becoming more independent and responsible, I’m still their mother, but it’s just different now...I get to be a friend more and more. I find that very cool. I also love almost any reality TV show where they show a person in transformation: American Idol, The Biggest Loser, Heavy (a new series on weight loss on A&E), and So You Think You Can Dance are some of my favorites.

TFE: Is there anything else you'd like to share about yourself, The Language of Souls, or future projects?

Lena: Writing can be a lonely occupation, but I belong to several writing groups and have many writing buddies who help keep me sane. Well, almost. ;) I also belong to a group blog for writers and readers of young adult and middle grade fantasy called The Enchanted Inkpot. For all those writers out there, I can’t say enough about building a great network of writing friends! It will nurture and sustain you in so many ways.

TFE: Thanks, Lena!

Lena: Thanks for having me here, Christie! 

TFE: You’re very welcome! Thank you so much for stopping by! You can read my review of this fab little novella here.

Find Lena Goldfinch on the web:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: The Language of Souls by Lena Goldfinch

Title: The Language of Souls
Author: Lena Goldfinch
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult












Description from Goodreads:


Solena, a young healer with a generous heart, is desperate to heal her dying grandfather. When she ventures into a hostile territory to find a rare herb, she finds out just how much she’s risked when she’s captured by the enemy and accused of being a spy. 

As a soldier, Rundan has struggled all his life to please his father, a ruthless army commander, but when he’s ordered to take the beautiful trespasser to the royal courts, where she’ll be summarily tried and executed, he’s plagued by the most inconvenient desire to protect her at all costs. 

Though terrified and anxious to escape, Solena is confused by the handsome young soldier who cruelly captures her and then displays uncommon kindness. When he risks his own life to save her, she discovers she may have risked more than her life… she may have lost her heart.


My thoughts:


The Language of Souls is an enchanting little novella. I was immediately drawn in by the fascinating world in which Solena lives. As Solena sets out on her quest to find the herbs needed to save her grandfather, I was continually impressed with her courage and kindness. She is an amazing character that I couldn’t help but love and admire. When Rundan came into the picture I was extremely pleased with the direction the author took the plot. I feel like the entire story played out perfectly. The ending was everything I could have hoped for and more. This is a world I can see myself wanting to visit again.


I enjoy reading short stories, but sometimes find I feel dissatisfied when I reach the end. Almost as if the story was incomplete. This was most definitely not the case with The Language of Souls. The author did a beautiful job of packing what felt like a full length novel into a short, but sweet package. This reader was left completely sated. The writing flowed so smoothly, and gave me enough detail and growth to become completely immersed in Solena and Rundan’s world.I finished reading many weeks ago, but thinking of The Language of Souls still causes a pleasant nostalgic feeling. 


A truly stunning novella that I highly recommend to readers who enjoy romance laced with elements of fantasy, or anyone longing for a good old fashioned HEA. While I feel The Language of Souls falls into the adult fiction category, it can easily appeal to teens who enjoy fantasy with a side of sigh worthy romance. At just under 80 pages this is a story that can be easily devoured in an afternoon. 

My Rating:

Lena Goldfinch on the web:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Buy from Amazon:

Source: Author

Author Interview: Pam Bachorz

I’m pleased to welcome Pam Bachorz to the blog today! Pam’s newest release, Drought, is on bookstore shelves now. Welcome Pam!

TFE: Both Candor and Drought are dystopian novels. Do you see yourself ever writing something other than dystopian fiction?

Pam: Well, I never really set out to write something dystopian: I just write about things that fascinate me and things that freak me out. But I could absolutely see trying other things in the future. I think I’d get pretty bored if I’m still writing in the same exact vein, in 30 years.

TFE: I’m a self-proclaimed dystopian addict. Why do you think readers are drawn to books that take place in a dystopian world?

Pam: I think a lot of us are worried about stuff these days: limited resources, warring factions, technology that none of us fully understand, and people abusing power. Dystopian stories let us explore those concerns and feel like our worries are being heard. We can think “what if” without having to live through it.


TFE: If you were forced to live in a dystopian society what modern conveniences would you miss the most?

Pam: I love my food. I’d miss all my comfort favorites—Berger’s cookies from Baltimore, Snyder’s low-fat tortilla chips and fresh salsa, Trader Joe’s everything pretzel chips with chipolte hummus… mmmm. I think I need to get a snack.

Besides that, I sure do like my TV. And Internet. And having a light next to my bedside to snap on at any time? That’s pretty sweet too.

TFE: Please describe Drought’s main character, Ruby, in just three words.

Pam: Mystery. Seeker. Strong.

TFE: Do you feel your love of performing, and watching performances, has helped you write?

Pam: Absolutely—for me, writing IS performance. I try to use acting principles to immerse myself in each character and understand who they are; I find my posture changing as I write each person’s dialog. I also try to direct the reader’s eye the same way that you would on the stage. Look over here while I do this cool thing over there!

TFE: What books are you currently reading?

Pam: Right now I’m reading THE CURSE OF THE WENDIGO by Rick Yancey, FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB by Anthony John, and then a non-fiction book about writing (THE ANATOMY OF STORY by John Truby).

If anyone is curious to see what I’m reading, I’m always happy to have more Goodreads friends!

TFE: What one book should everyone read, besides the ones you wrote of course.


Pam: I absolutely love Adam Rex’s THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY. I defy anyone to read that and NOT laugh out loud—or quote it to their friends. I think most people would be happier if they read that book.

TFE: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Pam: Keep an eye on my website, in the weeks to come, for cool teaser videos about DROUGHT’s characters… and prize-pack giveaways when they launch!

Thanks so much!

TFE: You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by, and congratulations on the release of Drought!

Pam Bachorz on the web:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Pam’s  Books:

New Winners! Updated!

I didn’t receive a response from a couple of giveaway winners. All winners are chosen via random.org

The new winner of Trapped by Michael Northrop is:

#12 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books)

The new winner of How to Marry a Duke is:

Shannon *passed*

New winner!

#3 Elaine G.

Congratulations!!!

I’ll be emailing you ladies. Please reply in the next 48 hours.

Check out my new look!

Lori from Use Your Imagination Designs redesigned my blog. I love it! She did an amazing job and was so patient through all my indecisiveness. Thanks again, Lori! Also in case you didn’t know Lori is a fellow book blogger. You can find her at Pure Imagination.

I also have a gorgeous new button if anyone wants to grab it :) I’m planning to add one of those nifty button slideshow things very soon. Just let me know and I’ll grab yours too.

ARC Review: So Shelly by Ty Roth

Title: So Shelly
Author: Ty Roth
Available: Now
Reading Level: Young Adult












Description from Goodreads:


Until now, high school junior, John Keats, has only tiptoed near the edges of the vortex that is schoolmate and literary prodigy, Gordon Byron. That is, until their mutual friend, Shelly, drowns in a sailing accident.

After stealing Shelly's ashes from her wake at Trinity Catholic High School, the boys set a course for the small Lake Erie island where Shelly's body had washed ashore and to where she wished to be returned. It would be one last "so Shelly" romantic quest. At least that's what they think. As they navigate around the obstacles and resist temptations during their odyssey, Keats and Gordon glue together the shattered pieces of Shelly's and their own pasts while attempting to make sense of her tragic and premature end


My thoughts:


So Shelly revolves around the lives of three character based off long dead poetic greats. Anticipating how John Keats, Lord Byron, and Percy Shelly might live and interact if they were teens living in modern day. Shelly is dead, and Keats and Gordon have swiped her ashes from her memorial service. Armed with an urn, a boom box, and an REM CD they set out to spread Shelly’s ashes in a location she chose before her passing. Along the way Gordon and Keats get to know each other better, and take us down memory lane via flashbacks of their lives with a living and breathing Shelly.


I wanted to love this one. I really did. I think the premise of the novel is brilliant, but I found the characters seriously lacking. I couldn’t relate to or sympathize with them. Even Keats who I should have felt sorry for didn’t leave an impression. Gordon is horribly selfish and self-centered. Shelly’s obsession with the narcissistic Gordon was pathetic. Keats was just there, and didn’t appear to serve a purpose beyond that of narrator. 


The plot moved slower than I would have liked, and honestly I spent most of this book in a state of depression. Avoid this one if you’re looking for happy because this is a dark and deep read. I do appreciate the idea behind the novel, but unfortunately it didn’t win me over. History buffs and poetry fans might enjoy this one more than I did. I encourage you to read the author’s notes at the end of the novel before reading. They are very informative if you aren’t familiar with the background of these poets.


I also have to slap a content warning on this one. It contains colorful language, references to drugs, sex, incest, and other heavy topics that some younger teens might not be ready for. 


Cover notes: The cover is absolutely stunning, and the reason this book garnered my attention in the first place. 

My rating:

Source: Around the World Tours

My Immortal Assassin Winners!

The Winners of My Immortal Assassin by Carolyn Jewel are

#29 Anita Y. *Confirmed*

#4 Beth C. *Confirmed*

#42 neljo m. *Confirmed*

Congratulations!

I will email all the winners tonight. Please reply by Wednesday (2/16) evening or I will have to choose another winner. Thanks to all of you who entered. Don’t forget to check out the other giveaways I’m currently hosting.

You’re Invited to a Valentine’s Day Twitter Party!

Forever Romance & Grand Central Publishing would like to invite you all to attend their Valentine’s Day Twitter Party on February 14th from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m 

To participate follow @ForeverRomance and include the hashtag #4evrloveday 

Winners, Winners, Winners! UPDATED!

So sorry I didn’t get these posted more quickly.

Chosen via Random.org

The winners of

How to Marry A Duke

#25 Margay *Passed*

#30 Cynthia B. *Confirmed*

#37 Nicole *No Reply*


New Winner:
#20 Barbara E. *Confirmed*

__________________________

The Winners of

Sins of a Highland Devil

#21 Maureen *Confirmed*

#9 jeanette8042 *Passed*

#7 BJ *Confirmed*


New Winner:
#23 Cynthia B. *Confirmed*


_________________________

The Winner of Trapped

#10 Jessi E. *No Reply*

Congratulations!!!

I will send out emails to all the winners sometime today or you can email me @ TheFictionEnthusiast@live.com Please respond by Monday (2/14) evening or I will have to choose another winner. Thanks to all who entered! Don’t forget to check out the other giveaways I’m currently hosting.